Device for cracking an egg

ABSTRACT

A device for cracking eggs is provided. The device has a generally flat blade portion secured to an arched base portion. The generally flat blade portion is used to cut or crack the egg. The generally flat blade portion is perpendicularly secured to the arched base portion wherein the arched base portion mirrors the arc of the exterior surface of an average egg. A user uses the generally flat blade portion to strike the egg. The arched base portion stops the generally flat blade portion from penetrating the egg past a predetermined point. In some embodiments, a padded attachment or a spring loaded contact surface may be secured to the arched base portion and may prevent the device from over-cutting or cracking the egg. In alternative embodiments, the back of the arched base portion has a loop for securing a finger. Finally, a handle may be secured to the arched base portion to easily grasp the device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following application is based on and claims the priority benefit ofU.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/951,156 filed Mar. 11, 2014 andSer. No. 62/042,822 filed Aug. 28, 2014; the entire contents of bothwhich are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device for cracking eggs is provided. The device has a generally flatblade portion secured to an arched base portion. The generally flatblade portion is used to cut or crack the egg. The generally flat bladeportion is perpendicularly secured to the arched base portion whereinthe arched base portion mirrors the arc of the exterior surface of anaverage egg. A user uses the generally flat blade portion to strike theegg. The arched base portion stops the generally flat blade portion frompenetrating the egg past a predetermined point. In some embodiments, apadded attachment or a spring loaded contact surface may be secured tothe arched base portion and may prevent the device from over-cutting orcracking the egg. In alternative embodiments, the back of the archedbase portion has a loop for securing a finger. Finally, a handle may besecured to the arched base portion to easily grasp the device.

Over the years, attempts have been made to provide an efficient eggcracking device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,779 to Dolub disclosesa device for cracking open an egg, having egg-size sensing means fordetermining the size of an egg positioned in the device, therebyproviding for automatic calibration of the device to the specific sizeof an egg to be cracked. The calibration determines how much would thedistance between the piercing members and the imaginary longitudinalaxis of the egg be reduced before the piercing members stop theiradvancing towards the egg and start moving apart for cracking its shellopen. The device can thus open eggs of different sizes, e.g. havingwidths between 40 and 50 millimeters, accurately without requiringspecial preparation or manual calibration. A method for cracking open anegg based on said device is also shown.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,508 discloses Banks et al discloses an eggcracking device which includes two formations which are adapted to movetowards a central portion of an egg thereby to pierce the shell of theegg and then to move apart to crack the egg shell into the halves.

Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,584 to Talbot discloses an eggcracking device, which includes a pair of complementary egg supportcontainer parts. A pair of hingedly connected elongated handle arms areprovided, one of each being connected to its egg container part, andbeing arranged to be moved from a closed position, in which the eggcontainer parts abut against each other, to an open position, in whichthe egg container parts are moved apart. The device further includesbiassing means urging the handle arms into the closed position; and apair of egg cutter members connected to the egg container parts, andabutting against each other when the egg container parts are in theclosed position. The egg cutter members are adapted each to grip a partof a cut egg shell and to keep the egg shell parts apart when the handlearms are pressed against the biassing means for opening the eggcontainer parts.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,838 to Warren discloses an egg breaking machine inwhich a plurality of cooperating egg cracking heads and separatorscarried by a drive means, such as a roller chain, automatically crackand drain eggs and separate the liquid egg yolk and white. The drivechain carries the cracking head and separator combinations through eggloading, cracking, draining, and yolk and white separating positions. Animproved cracker head is disclosed which operates in three automaticallycontrolled positions including a fully closed, partially opened, and afully opened position whereby the initial and subsequent shell drainageare facilitated. Additionally, an improved cracking head and separatormounting and spacing control means is disclosed for improving thedrainage from the egg to the separator.

However, these patents fail to describe an egg cracking device which iseasy to use and efficient as is described in the present application.Further, these patents fail to provide an egg cracking device which maybreak an egg in a predetermined fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for cracking eggs is provided. The device has a generally flatblade portion secured to an arched base portion. The generally flatblade portion is used to cut or crack the egg. The generally flat bladeportion is perpendicularly secured to the arched base portion whereinthe arched base portion mirrors the arc of the exterior surface of anaverage egg. A user uses the generally flat blade portion to strike theegg. The arched base portion stops the generally flat blade portion frompenetrating the egg past a predetermined point. In some embodiments, apadded attachment or a spring loaded contact surface may be secured tothe arched base portion and may prevent the device from over-cutting orcracking the egg. In alternative embodiments, the back of the archedbase portion has a loop for securing a finger. Finally, a handle may besecured to the arched base portion to easily grasp the device.

An advantage of the present egg cracking device is that the presentdevice may have a finger loop for securing the egg cracking device to asingle finger.

An advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device is that thepresent device is easy to use.

Another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device is thatthe present device avoids the over-cracking of an egg.

Yet another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device isthat the present device may have a padded attachment portion whichprevents the device from over-cracking the egg.

Still another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device isthat the present egg cracking device may have a spring loaded contactsurface which prevents the device from over-cracking the egg.

Another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device is thatthe present device may be easily cleaned in a dishwasher.

Still another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device isthat the present device prevents injury which may result from cutting orcracking an egg using other methods, such as a knife.

And another advantage of the present egg cutting or cracking device isthat the present device has a soft grasping handle portion.

For a more complete understanding of the above listed features andadvantages of the egg cutting or cracking device reference should bemade to the detailed description and the drawings. Further, additionalfeatures and advantages of the invention are described in, and will beapparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the eggcracking device worn on the finger of a user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the eggcracking device worn on the finger of a user wherein the device is inthe process of cracking an egg.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the egg cracking device inthe finger embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the egg cracking device inthe finger embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of the egg cracking device inthe finger embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side plan view of the egg cracking device in thefinger embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the egg cracking device in the fingerembodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the egg cracking device in thefinger embodiment.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the egg crackingdevice in the finger embodiment wherein a plurality of finger loops areprovided.

FIG. 13 illustrates a side perspective view of an alternative embodimentof the egg cracking device wherein a handle portion is provided.

FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom view of the egg cracking device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the egg cracking device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the eggcracking device wherein the handle portion has a full handle.

FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment of the egg crackingdevice of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of the egg cracking device embodiment ofFIG. 16.

FIG. 19 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the egg cracking devicewherein the egg cracking device has a padded portion located on thearched base portion.

FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the egg cracking devicewherein the egg cracking device has a spring loaded contact surface.

FIG. 21 illustrates yet another embodiment wherein the egg crackingdevice has both a handle portion and a finger loop portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device for cracking eggs is provided. The device has a generally flatblade portion secured to an arched base portion. The generally flatblade portion is used to cut or crack the egg. The generally flat bladeportion is perpendicularly secured to the arched base portion whereinthe arched base portion mirrors the arc of the exterior surface of anaverage egg. A user uses the generally flat blade portion to strike theegg. The arched base portion stops the generally flat blade portion frompenetrating the egg past a predetermined point. In some embodiments, apadded attachment or a spring loaded contact surface may be secured tothe arched base portion and may prevent the device from over-cutting orcracking the egg. In alternative embodiments, the back of the archedbase portion has a loop for securing a finger. Finally, a handle may besecured to the arched base portion to easily grasp the device.

Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 5, an egg cutting or cracking device 1 isprovided. The egg cutting or cracking device 1 may have an arched basedportion 30 having a top 2, a bottom 3, a front 4, a back 5, a first side6 and a second side 7. The first side 6 of the egg cutting or crackingdevice 1 may be a mirror image of the second side 7 of the device 1.

In the first and preferred embodiment (the “finger embodiment”), auser's finger 50 may contact the top 2 of the device 1. In particular,located on the top 2 of the device may be a finger loop 40 having anopening 45 (FIG. 7). A split 41 may be located in the finger loop 40 soas to allow the finger loop 40 to slightly expand its diameter 47 (FIG.7). The finger loop 40 may be made from, for example, a hard plastic soas to allow the finger loop 40 to slightly expand and later return toits relaxed, unexpanded shape. The expanded diameter 47 of the opening45 may therein allow the device 1 to be secured around a finger 50 of aperson by friction. In an alternative embodiment, FIGS. 9-12, the device1 may have a plurality of finger loops 40 located on the top 2 of thearched base portion 30. Providing a plurality of finger loops 40 on thetop 2 of the arched base portion 30 may allow a user to more securingcontrol the egg cracking device 1 by allowing the user to insert asingle finger 50 into multiple finger loops 40. In the embodiment with asingle finger loop 40, the finger loop 40 may be located halfway betweenthe front 4 and the back 5 of the device 1 so as to provide betterstability for the device 1 during use.

In yet another alternative embodiment (FIGS. 13-18), located at the back5 of the device 1 may be a griping portion 10. Preferably, the grippingportion 10 is made of rubber, plastic or stainless steel and is durableand easily cleaned, for example, in a dishwasher. In an embodiment, thegripping portion 10 may be removed for cleaning or replacing.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate a generally flat gripping portion 10A. The lightweight generally flat gripping portion 10A may allow the device 1 to beeasily transported and stored. In an alternative embodiment (FIGS.16-18) the gripping portion 10B may be generally cylindrical. Thegenerally cylindrical gripping portion 10B may be heavier, but may allowa user to more easily grasp the gripping portion 10B as the cylindricalshape more easily is secured in a clinched hand. Located on thegenerally cylindrical griping portion 10B may be a plurality ofindentations 11. The plurality of indentations 11 may be generallyarched-shape and may allow the user to grasp the device 1 more easilywith his or her fingers 50.

The bottom 3 of the arched base portion 30 of the device 1 (and a bladeportion 20) may be the portion of the device 1 which actually contactsan egg 100 (FIG. 1) during use. The bottom 3 of the device 1 may have agenerally flat blade portion 20 having a top 21, a bottom 22 and aheight 23 (FIG. 6). In an embodiment, the top portion 21 of thegenerally flat blade portion 20 may be generally curved and the bottom22 may be generally straight. More specifically, the generally flatblade portion 20 may be generally in the shape of half of an oval. Thecurved top 21 of the generally flat blade portion 20 may be permanentlysecured to the bottom 3 of the arched base portion 30. The bottom 22 ofthe generally flat blade portion 20 may be generally thin enough so asto be able to easily cut or crack the egg 100; however, not too thin soas to easily cut the hand of a user as a knife may. More specifically,the generally flat blade portion 20 may have a width 60 (FIG. 7) and mayhave a length 61 (FIG. 8).

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom 3 of the arched baseportion 30 may be permanently secured to the top 21 of the generallyflat blade portion 20. Further, the top 21 of the generally flat bladeportion 20 may be generally perpendicular to the arched base portion 30.In particular, the generally flat blade portion 20 may generally bisectthe arched base portion 30 and may divide the arched base portion 30into two equal sections.

In an alternative embodiment, the arched base portion 30 may have agenerally rectangular attachment portion 75 (FIGS. 13-15). The generallyrectangular attachment portion 75 may connect the back 5 of the archedbase portion 30 to the gripping portion 10A. Further, in an embodiment,the generally rectangular attachment portion 75 may extend at leastpartially within the gripping portion 10 (not shown) so as to providefor greater stability of the device 1.

In an embodiment, the arched base portion 30 may extend to the very mosttip of the front 4 of the device 1. More specifically, the front 4 ofthe arched base portion 30 may extend beyond the generally flat bladeportion 20 and may cover the tip of the generally flat blade portion 20so as to prevent injury which may be caused by the front of thegenerally flat blade portion 20.

Referring now to FIG. 19, in an alternative embodiment, the bottom 3 ofthe arched base portion 30 may have padded attachment 160. The paddedattachment 160 may have a top 161, a bottom 162, and a height 163. Thepadded attachment 160 may be generally arched and may mirror thecurvature of the arched base portion 30 so that the padded attachment160 is secured to the arched base portion 30 in a generally flushmanner. The top 161 of the padded attachment 160 may be permanentlysecured to the bottom 3 of the arched base portion 30 by, for example,glue (not shown). Preferably, the padded attachment 160 is located onboth sides of the generally flat blade portion 20. In an embodiment, anantimicrobial agent 166 may also be added to the padded attachment 160so as to reduce the chances of a microbial agent being introduced to theegg 100 once the egg 100 is cut or cracked.

In an embodiment, the height 163 of the padded attachment 160 isapproximately two mm. The padded attachment 160 may prevent the archedbase portion 30 (which is harder than the padded attachment 160) fromover cutting or cracking the egg 100 by providing a softer contactsurface then an unpadded arched base portion 30 against the exterior ofthe egg 100.

Referring now to FIG. 20, in yet another alternative embodiment, aspring loaded contact surface 180 may be secured to the arched baseportion 30. The spring loaded contact surface 180 may have a top 185 anda bottom 186 and may act to reduce the force of the device 1 on the egg100 in a manner similar to the padded attachment 160. The spring loadedcontact surface 180 may have a generally arched shaped which mirrors thebottom 3 of the arched base portion 30. The top 185 of the spring loadedcontact surface 180 may face toward the bottom 3 of the arched baseportion 30.

Located between the top 185 of the spring loaded contact surface 180 andthe bottom 3 of the arched base portion 30 may be at least one spring187 (FIG. 20 illustrates six springs 187). The spring(s) 187 may allowthe spring loaded contact surface 180 to move from a First Position A toa Second Position B. More specifically, when a user strikes the egg 100with the generally flat blade portion 20 of the device 1, the generallyflat blade portion 20 first makes contact with the egg 100 and begins tocut or crack the egg 100. As the generally flat blade portion 20 beginsto enter the interior of the egg 100, the spring loaded contact surface180 (or padded attachment 160 in that embodiment) may then come intocontact with the exterior surface of the egg 100 on both sides of, andright next to, the cut or crack created by the generally flat bladeportion 20. The spring 187 of the spring loaded contact surface 180 (orpadded attachment 160) may reduce the acceleration of the device 1 onthe egg 100 therein preventing the egg 100 from being over-cut or overcracked. More specifically, the spring loaded contact surface 180 (orpadded attachment 160) may allow the generally flat blade portion 20from only entering the egg 100 a predetermined distance, roughly equalto the height 23 (FIG. 6) of the generally flat blade portion 20.Without utilizing the device 1, cracking an egg 100 completely in halfmay result in the egg 100 contents spilling in an unwanted manner.

Using the device 1 to crack the egg 100 in the described predeterminedmanner creates a cut or crack in the egg 100. The cut or crack 100 maynot completely cut the egg 100 in half, but may allow a user to usehis/her hands to then break the egg 100 completely in half at the cut orcrack in a desired location (such as over a skillet or bowl).

To use the device 1, a user may hold the egg 100 in one hand and thedevice 1 in the other hand. Preferably, the egg 100 is held such thatthe long axis of the egg 100 runs parallel to the length of the user'sarm. A user then inserts his or her finger 50 into the finger loops 40or the user grasps the gripping portion 10A or 10B of the device 1. Theuser then brings down the device 1 so that the generally flat bladeportion 20 of the device 1 strikes the egg 100 in a generallyperpendicular manner with respect to the long axis of the egg 100.Preferably, the generally flat blade portion 20 strikes the egg 100approximately halfway between the ends of the egg 100 and preferably,the generally flat blade portion 20 creates a cut or crack approximately0.3 to 0.6 inches in length.

As the generally flat blade portion 20 begins to penetrate the shell ofthe egg 100, the shell of the egg 100 is contacted by the bottom 3 ofthe arched base portion 30. The bottom 3 of the arched base portion 30then prevents the generally flat blade portion 20 from furtherpenetrating the egg 100. As a result, a cut or crack in the egg 100 iscreated. A user then may place the device 1 on a table and use bothhands to crack the egg 100 over a skillet, bowl, or the like along thecut or crack created by the generally flat blade portion 20. In theembodiments having the padded attachment 160 or the spring loadedcontact surface 180 the padded attachment 160 or the spring loadedcontact surface 180 contacts the egg 100 instead of the bottom 3 of thearched base portion 30.

Finally, referring now to FIG. 21, in yet another embodiment, the eggcracking device 1 may have a handle portion 10A or 10B and a finger loopportion 40. In this embodiment, the user may elective pick between usingthe finger loop portion 40 or the handle portion 10A or 10B. Further, inthis embodiment, the handle portion 10A or 10B may be selectivelyremoved from the main body (the arched based portion 30) so that theuser may only use the device 1 with the finger loop portion 40.

Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein,it should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing itsattendant advantages.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for cracking an egg comprising: agenerally arched-shaped base portion having a front, a back, a firstside, a second side, a top, a bottom, and a length extending from thefront to the back of the generally arched-shaped base portion; agenerally flat blade portion wherein the generally flat blade portionhas a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a front, a back and alength wherein the length of the generally flat blade portion extendsfrom the front to the back of the generally flat blade portion andwherein the top of the generally flat blade portion is arched-shaped andaligns with and is perpendicularly connected with the bottom of thegenerally arched-shaped base portion and wherein the generally flatblade portion divides that generally arched-shaped base portion into twoequal halves; wherein the bottom of the generally flat blade portion hasa straight edge; wherein the generally flat blade portion divides thegenerally arched-shaped base portion into two halves and wherein thegenerally flat blade portion is used to crack an egg; wherein the lengthof the generally arched-shaped base portion equals the length of thearched-shaped based portion; and wherein the top of the arched-shapedbased portion has a receased concave portion for receiving a finger. 2.The egg cracking device of claim 1 further comprising: a finger loopsecured to the top of the generally arched-shaped base portion whereinthe finger loop has an opening for receiving a finger.
 3. The eggcracking device of claim 2 wherein the finger loop secured to the top ofthe arched-shaped base portion has a diameter and further has a slitallowing the finger loop to slightly expand in diameter to therein tosecure a finger of a user.
 4. The egg cracking device of claim 2 whereinthe finger loop is located halfway between the front and the back of thegenerally arched-shaped base portion.